Machine for cutting, folding, and pressing labels



May 16, 1939. L. OSKOW 2,158,144

MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND PRESSING LABELS Filed July so, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 16, 1939. osKow 2,158,144

MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND PRESSING LABELS Filed July 30, 1938 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 [gig-*7 INVENTOR 25 r 2.9 3 Zozalr Os/i'ow May 16, 1939. QsKQyv 2,158,144

MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND PRESSING LABELS Filed July 50, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 & A

INVENTOR .[ouw Os/Imr Patented May 16, 1939 I uurrso STATES PATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR CUTTING, FOLDING, AND PRESSING LABELS Louis O skow, New York, N. Y., assignor to Master Machine Mfg. 00., Inc., New York, N. Y a. corporation of New York Application July 30, 1938, Serial No. 222,08

16 Claims. (Cl. 270-86) This invention relates to label cutting and the position of pressing; Fig. 6 is a view similar folding machines, and particularly to that type to Fig. 5, with the machine in feeding position; of machine which successively cuts fabric, or Fig. '7 is a detail view of a part of the label finger so-called woven labels from the lengthy strip mechanism; Figs. 8 to 11 inclusive, are diagramin which they are woven, and folds over and matic views showing the operations of feeding a 5 presses down the out ends of the label. label over the cutting and pressing table, sever.-

As is well known, woven or fabric labels are ing the label from the strip and inclining the produced in lengthy strip, and each label, in becut ends of the label, and folding down and pressing made ready for attachment to a garment or ing the cut ends; Fig. 12 is a perspective View other article, must be cut from the strip and the of the completed out, folded and pressed label; l0

cut edges of the label folded over or inturned and and Fig. 13 is a front View of the device for liftthen pressed down to retain them in infolded ing the cut end of a severed label.

condition until ready for attachment to a gar- The various elements of the machine are ment. At the present time the cutting of the mounted upon a supporting base I. Mounted 15 labels from the strip and the inturning and pressupon the base by the screws 2 (Figs. 2 and ,3)

ing down of the cut edges is done either laboriis a bracket 3, the top of which is provided with ously by hand operation or by machinery of a the spaced bearing members 5 and 6, bearing complex nature, the cost of which is usually too member 6 being formed with an upwardly exgreat for the average garment manufacturer to tending arm I, the end of which carries a spindle purchase. Furthermore, the various machines 3 upon which roll of labels to in strip formation ;20

heretofore produced for the performance of the is rotatively .carried. functions herein set forth were of such a nature The roll of labels is composed of a relatively as to require a skilled operator. This too, prolarge number .of integrally formed labels of woven hibits the smaller manufacturer from undertextile fabric, .each label being separated from taking the acquirement of such machines and the next by the dividing line or cross thread 9 .or 25 hence he is compelled to out, fold and press his other separating mark, which constitutes a line labels to place them in readiness for attachment of severage as will be hereafter explained. Ad.- -to garments or other articles by hand operajustably mounted in the bearing members 5 and tion. ii are the label guides 10 and H, which may be The primary object of this invention is to shifted as required to accommodate labels of 3 0 produce a machine for the purpose mentioned, various widths and between which the label strip of simple, sturdy construction by which the labels is fed on its travel toward the cutting and may be accurately and effectively cut from the pressing table i2. Each of the guides l0 and H strip and have their cut edges folded over and is attached to rods 13 extending through the pressed down so that each label as it emerges bearing memb s v5 and 6. s -OdS being fixed 35 from the machine is ready for immediate at in the desired positions by means of the settachment to a garment or other article. A furscrews 14. ther object of the invention is to provide a ma- The strip from roll 9a is fed toward the cutchine of such construction as to permit of its ting table by means of -a manually operated feed use by inexperienced operators who may, withroll i5 having its shaft I 6 rotatably mounted in 40 out training or exceptional skill, turn out the the bearings i], said shaft terminating in the labels in properly cut and folded and pressed hand wheel [8. The roll .15 has a knurled or form ready for aflixment to a garment or the other roughened face .to engage against the top like. surface of .the label strip and feed it along the In the drawings, wherein an embodiment of top plate id of bracket 3 to the right, as viewed 4.5 the invention is shown, Fig. 1 is a plan view of in Fig. 1. To determine the amount .of feed for a machine constructed in accordance with the each label and to insure the cutting off .of each invention; 2 is a sectional view on the line label on the division line :9, a gauge '20 is pro- :2--2 .of Fig. 1, looking in the direction .of the vided .on the gu it], said gaug overlyi g the arrows; Fig. .3 is .a sectional view on the line 3-3 top of the label strip, as seen in Fig. ;1. Thus, to 5 0 of Fig. 2, lookingin the direction of the arrows; feed a label from -.t hestrip into .cutting position, Fig. 4 is aplan'view of the label feed mechanism hand wheel J33 is rotated slightly in counter.- and u ng and pressin a le; F 5 s a s c wi e d rect on. when iew d f om th nt .tional view en the line .5-5 .of Fig. 1, looking in of the machine, ',by the left hand, :to bring the -the.direc tion.of ,the arrows, with the machine in gauge 2i] in registration with the second guide 55 line 9 from the end of the strip, the first guide line being then directly over a fixed cutting member 25. The cutting means, to be described, will then cut the first label in the strip on the first guide line, detaching the label from the strip and leaving it on the table I2 for the performance of the cutting, folding and pressing operations.

After passing under the roll I5, the label strip is guided through a loop 2I fixed near the end of an arm 22 pivoted on the screw 24 and under the friction imposed by spring 23 which holds the loop in any set position. The function of the loop 2! is to slightly raise the end of the label strip and guide it over the top of the fixed angular cutting blade 25 secured along one edge of the table I2. In the slightly upward or tilted position in which it passes through the loop 2|, the end of the label strip also passes over the top of a lifter member 26, comprising a bar which extends parallel to the edge of table I2 on which the fixed cutting blade is mounted, and normally is slightly elevated above the top or upper face of the table to lift the cut end of the label as will be hereafter explained. The lifter member has laterally formed ends 21 (Fig. 13) each pivoted at 28 on the front and back edges respectively of the table I2, and engaged by a spring 29, secured on the pin 30. The springs 29 tend to raise the lifter member 26 so that it is slightly elevated above the fixed cutting blade 25 and above the top of table i2 to an extent permitted by the stop pins 3i. This resilient mounting of the lifter member permits it to be depressed under pressure of the platen or upper pressing member 32 when said member descends on the label on top of the table I2.

The table I2 on which the label cut from the strip is severed, folded and pressed, is supported on the brackets 33 and 94. Bracket 33 is screwed to the base I by the screws 35, while bracket 34 issimilarly attached to the base by the screws 36. Table I2 is heated by means of heating member 31 secured to the under side of the table I2 and connected to a source of electrical current or other means of heat supply to suitably heat the table 12 and enable it to act as a pressing element. A thermostat or other known heat control means, not shown, may be utilized to control the degree of heat provided to the table Q2. The opposite or cut edges I50 and I52 (Figs. 9 to 12) of each label severed from the strip are folded toward one another by means of two folder members moving over the surface of the table toward one another during the folding operation. One of these folder members is shown at 40, the same consisting of a thin flat metal plate having a beveled free end M for contact with one of the edges of the label to fold the same, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. This folder member 49 is reciprocated in guides 82 secured along the opposite sides of the table I2 by means of the screws 43. At one end the folder 40 is formed with an elongated slot 44 in which a pin 45 extends, said pin being locked in a selected position in the slot 44 by means of the locking nut 46 and washer 4?. Pin 45 is provided with a downwardly extending lug 48 located below the top of the table I2 and forming a slide, said lug being pivotally connected at 49 to one end of a link 59 which has its opposite end pivoted at 5I to rocker arm 52, said rocker arm being pivoted at 53 near its lower end between the ears 53 of bracket 55 attached to the base I by means of the screws 56.

The rocker arm 52 is provided with a nose 5? adapted to be engaged and raised by the *end portion 58 of a lever 59. The second folder member is shown at 69 and the same moves over the top I9 of bracket 3 and is provided with a downwardly dependent lug 6| pivoted at 62 to the end of link 63 which has its opposite end pivoted at 64 to the upwardly extending end of a rocker arm 65 that is pivoted at 66 between lugs 6'! formed on the table-supporting bracket 33. The rocker arm is formed with a nose portion 68 adapted to be engaged and raised by plate 58a on the end 58 of lever 59, as will be hereinafter explained. A coil spring 69 connects the two rocker arms 52 and 65 and normally tends to draw their respective nose portions 51 and 93 downwardly to an extent permitted by the adjustable screws III and II provided on the rocker arms 65 and 52 respectively, such movement acting to draw the folder members 49 and 60 toward one another to cause them to fold the opposite edges I59 and I52 of the label.

The lever 59 is pivoted at I2 at oneof its ends to a bracket I3 attached by screws 14 to the base i of the machine. A link I5 (Figs. 5 and 6) has its lower end pivotally connected at I6 to the lever59, said link having its upper end pivotally connected at Ti to an arm l8 which carries the upper pressing member or platen 32. The platen 32 is adjustably mounted in the free end of arm 18 by means of screws :19 and 80, whereby the pressure imposed by the platen or pressing member 32 on top of the label located on the table I2 may be regulated. Pressing member or platen 32 contains an electrical heating element 8| (Fig. 2) suitably connected to'a source of electrical current.

Arm 73 carrying the platen or pressing mem-- ber 32 is provided with a hubportion 89 fixed on an oscillating shaft 32 supported at one end in the bearing 83 formed on bracket 13. The opposite end of shaft 82 is rotatively mounted in bearing 84 formed on bracket 85 secured by screws 86 to the top of base plate I.

It will be obvious that by oscillatory movement of shaft 82 the platen 32 will be raised and lowered and that lever 59 will be similarly raised and lowered through the connection between arm I8 and lever 59 provided by means of the link I5.

Shaft 82 is rocked or oscillated by means of the hand lever 8'! secured on and extending radially and upwardly from shaft 82 and provided on its free end with the knob or ball 88 by which it may be manually gripped to move it and shaft 82 to which it is attached.

The arm 13 is formed integral with and extends from the hub portion 89 secured on the shaft 82, and rising from said hub portion is a curved, slotted arm 99, in the end of which a block 92 is pivotally attached at 9| In the block 92 the end of a rack 93 is secured by means of the screw 94. Rack 93 meshes with a gear 95 secured on a shaft 96 mounted below and to the rear of the shaft 82 in the bearings 91 and 98 in the brackets 85 and I3 respectively. Loosely mounted on the shaft 96, and extending over the rack 93 and straddling the gear 95, is a housing 99 formed with a laterally extending lug I96 in which is adjustably mounted a contact pin IOI. When shaft 96 is oscillated in the direc. tion indicated by the arrow appearing on gear 95 in Fig. 5, by the downward and forward swing of the rack 93 from its position in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 6, housing 99 will be swung by the rack in theopposite direction to that of gear and the contact pin IOI will impinge against a shoulder I02 formed on a bell crank I03 loose on the shaft 96. The impingement of the contact pin IOI against the shoulder I02, as shown in Fig. 7, will cause the bell crank to be swung in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 6 so that the arm I04 of the bell crank will rise upwardly, as shown in Fig. 6, against the tension of a coil spring I05 extending around the stud I66 rising from the base plate I. The spring-supporting stud I06 extends through a lug portion I07 on the end of arm I04, said lug portion also being provided with a downwardly extending stop pin I08 which, by abutment against the base I, limits the downward swing of the arm I04 under pressure of spring I05 when pressure of the contact pin IIII against the shoulder I02 is relieved.

Secured on the shaft 96 is an interrupted gear I I0 which meshes with an reciprocates a rack I I I having one end secured in a slide I I2 mounted to move back and forth on two spaced parallel rods I I3. These two rods have their rear ends secured in a head on the end of the upwardly extending arm II4 of the bell crank I03 and their free ends extending in a direction toward the front of the machine. When the bell crank I03 is rocked as indicated in Fig. 6, the front ends of the rods I I3 will be raised or tilted upwardly.

Slide I I2 has a lower portion I I5 located below the guide rods H3 and secured thereto is a forwardly-extending resilient finger I I B constituting a label-holding member and a label ejector. Said finger is of fiat, flexible spring stock and it is adapted to be brought downwardly on top of a label fed on the table I2 to hold said label while it is being cut from the end of the strip and while the opposite edges of the label are being i-nturned and folded down preparatory to being pressed. A resilient stop finger II'I operates against the roller II8 on the end of the rack III to hold the rack against rearward movement when rods II3 are upwardly tilted and the rack is overlying the toothless portion of gear I I0.

Fastened on the shaft 82 is an arm II9 pivoted at I20 to the uper end of a link I2I which has its lower end pivotally secured at I2Ia to a movable cutting blade I22 which co-operates with the fixed cutting member 25 in cutting a label from the strip. Movable cutting blade I 22 is pivoted at I23 in a part of the bracket 33.

Briefly, the operation of the improved machine is as follows:

A roll 9a of the labels in strip form is placed upon the spindle 8, and the strip is guided between guides I 0 and II under the roll I5 and is fed through the guide loop 2I. The end of the strip is then fed, by hand rotation of the hand wheel I8 in a counter-clockwise direction until the second guide line 9 from the end of the strip is directly beneath the gauge member 20. The first guide line is, at this time located directly over the edge of fixed cutter 25. The machine is now in the position shown in Fig. 6 with the platen 32 in raised position, and the movable cutter I22 and finger IIG also raised so that the end of the strip fed upon table I 2 passes below these elements and reaches a position of rest on top of table I 2.

Guide loop 2I tends to tilt the end of the strip slightly upward so that when the end I50 of the strip is fed across the table I2, it will ride over the lifter 26 and over the end 4I' of the folder 40 for a slight distance as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8. Now, when the shaft 82 continues its rotative movement, arm I04 being then depressed by spring I05 will bring the finger IIB down on top of the label resting on table I2 to hold it while movable cutting blade I22 will be swung downwardly on its pivot I23 and co-operating with the fixed cutter 25 will sever the label from the strip, thus producing the cut edge I5I on the label which has now been detached from the strip and is held on top of table I2 by finger I I6. Finger IIB which has descended and is resting upon top of the label holds it during the cutting operation and for a time thereafter, and as the label issevered, the cut edge I52 is tilted upwardly by the lifter bar 26 as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The opposite edge of the label, indicated at I 50, has in the meantime, by the descent of the finger I I6 been tilted upwardly between the edge 4| of folder 40 and the adjacent edge of the finger I I6. During the forward movement of the hand lever 81, link 15 has been lowering the lifter lever 59, causing the rocker arms 52 and E5 to be swung toward one another under the pull of the spring 69. This movement of the rocker arms by spring pull causes the folders 40 and 63 to move toward one another so that the beveled edge 4| of folder 40 contacts with the uptilted edge I50 of the label and folds it down over the top of finger IIS while the end of folder 60 similarly folds down the opposite edge I52 of the label. The beginning of these folding movements is shown in Fig. 9. Slide H2 is now moving rearwardly on its guide rods II3 under the action of the interrupted gear IIO the teeth of which are at this time in mesh with those on rack III, withdraws the finger I I6 from the top of the label as the platen 32 descends and presses down the folders 40 and 50 upon the inturned edges of the label. This completes the cutting, folding and pressing of a single label and comprises the end of the forward swing of the hand lever 8?, the parts at this time being as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The rearward swing of the lever 8'5 is now being started, and at the beginning of such move.- ment, finger H6, which has been retracted, and is in the lowered rearward position of Fig. 5, is moved forwardly while remaining in such lowered position so that it slides over the surface of table I2 to contact with the rear end of the folded and pressed label resting thereon to slide it forwardly from the surface of the table and eject it into a receptacle properly placed in front of the table I2 to receive the labels so successively ejected after being pressed. The folded and pressed label is shown in Fig. 12. Finger H6, movable cutting member I22 and platen 32 now rise as the rearward swing of the hand lever 81 continues, and lifter lever 59, rising, first raises rocker arm 65 to withdraw folder E0, and shortly thereafter raises rocker arm 52 to withdraw the folder 40. The parts reach the positions shown in Fig. 6 at the end of the rearward swing of the hand lever 81, when the operator again rotates hand wheel I8 to move the strip to bring the next guide line 9 into registration with the gauge 20. Then the hand lever 8! is again pulled forwardly to repeat the cycle of operations described.

The improved machine has been found effective in cutting, folding and pressing labels of various textile fabrics, among which is a silk label found difiicult to handle in various prior devices due to its softness and pliability. Through the use of the adjustable guide loop 2| which can be tilted to incline the free end of the fabric strip to any extent required as it is fed across table I2, a limp and soft label can be fed across the table [2 without difficulty and without the same becoming tangled in the folders or other operating elements.

The operation of the mechanism is exceedingly simple and speedy; accurate cutting, folding and pressing can be easily performed by an unskilled operator as the operation merely requires feeding the labels by turning the hand wheel from one guide line to the next and moving the hand lever forwardly and then rearwardly, this forward and backward movement of the lever serving to cut, fold, press and eject the finished label. II" desired, the hand lever 8'! can be easily dispensed with and a foot treadle employed to rock shaft 82 where higher speed of operation is required. These and, other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1.. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting a rolled strip of labels, a support for labels to be cut and folded, means for feeding successive labels from the roll onto the support, means for cutting each label from the rolled strip as it reaches the support, means for inclining the cut edges of the label preliminarily to folding down said edges, means for simultaneously folding down the inclined cut edges of the label, means for pressing the folded-down edges, and means for ejecting the cut and pressed label from the support.

2. In a machine of the character described, means for supporting a rolled strip of connected labels, a support upon which labels from said strip are cut and iolded, means for feeding successive labels from the strip onto the support, means for cutting one edge of the label to sever the label from the strip as the label rests upon the support, means for raising the cut edge of the label, means for holding the label down upon the support, folder members movable toward one another for folding down the opposite edges of the label, means for pressing the folded-down edges of the label, and means for actuating the labelholding means to cause the same to eject the pressed label from the support. V

3. In a machine of the character described, a support for a label located at the end of a strip of connected fabric labels, means for severing said end label from the strip, means for folding down opposite edges of the severed label, means for pressing the folded-down edges, means for ejecting the pressed label from the support, an oscillating shaft, and connections between said shaft and the severing, folding, pressing and ejecting means by which said several means are actuated by a single oscillatory movement of said shaft first in one direction and then in reverse.

4. In a machine of the character described, a support for a label located at the end of a strip of connected fabric labels, a table on which said label is brought to rest, cutting means for severing the label from the strip as the label rests upon the table, means for tilting the cut edge of the label, folder members movable toward one another over the face of the table for folding the opposite edges of the label downward, a label holder for holding the label down upon the table during the folding operation, a pressing member and means for bringing it down upon the folded label to press the folded-down edges of the same, and means for moving the label-holding member with a sliding movement across the table to eject the folded and pressed label from the table.

5. In a machine of the character described, a support for a roll of connected labels, a cutting and pressing table, means for successively feeding labels from the roll onto said table, cutting means situated between the feeding means and the table for cutting each label from the roll as the label is fed upon the table, means for raising the cut edge of the label immediately after being cut, means for holding down the cut label on top of the table, folding means for folding down opposite edges of the label, pressing means for pressing the folded-down labels, and means for shifting the folded and pressed labels successively from the table.

6. In a machine of the character described, a table upon which a fabric label is brought to rest, a resilient holding member and means for bringing it to rest upon the top of the label on the table, movable folder members and means for moving the same toward one another to cause them to engage and fold down opposite edges of the label so held, a pressing member and means for bringing it in contact with the folded down edges of the label to press said edges, and means for shifting the label-holding member across the surface of the table to cause it to slide the pressed label from off the table.

7. In a machine of the character described, a support for a label to be cut, folded and pressed,

means for cutting the label from a strip while the M label is resting upon the support, means for folding the opposite edges of the cut label, means for pressing down the folded edges, and means situated between the cutting and folding means for tilting the cut edge of the label before said edge is presented to the folding means.

8. In a machine of the character described, a heated table, a heated pressing member mounted above the table and adapted to be brought down I upon the table to press a label resting thereon, a support for a roll of connectedlabels, manuallyoperated means for feeding successive labels from the roll onto the table, gauge means for guiding the feed of said labels, cutting means for severing successive labels from the roll, folding members and means for moving the same toward one another to cause said members to fold downthe opposite edges of the label as the same rests upon the table, a label holder for holding the label on the table during cutting, folding and pressing operations, and means for raising and lowering the label-holding means and for sliding the same across the surface of the table to cause it to eject the label from the table after the pressing of the label has taken place.

9. In a machine of the character described, a

heated table, means for bringing a label to rest thereon, a label-holding member, means for raising and lowering said member and sliding it across the table whereby said member will hold the label while it is being folded and pressed and will eject it from the table after the folding and pressing operations, a pair of folder plates movable across the face of the table for engaging and folding down the opposite edges of the label while the label is being held down on the table, and means co-operating with the label-supporting table for pressing the folded-down edges of the label. V

10. In a machine of the character described, a pair of heated members between which the end of a strip of labels is fed, holding means brought to rest on top of the end label of the strip while said end label is resting against the first of the heated members, means for severing said end ii U label from the strip, folding elements for folding the opposite edges of the severed label over the edges of said holding means, means for withdrawing said holding means from beneath the folded edges of the label, and means for bringing the second heated member against the folding elements to cause the same to press down the folded edges of the label against the first heated member.

11. In a machine of the character described, a heated table, means for feeding a label to bring it to rest on top of said table, a label-holding finger and means for moving it to and from the table and sliding it across the table, a pair of folder plates for folding the opposite edges of the label over the edges of the finger, a pressing member and means for moving it toward the table to cause it to press the folder plates down on top of the infolded edges of the label.

12. In a machine of the character described, a pair of heated members between which the end of a strip of labels is fed, holding means resting on top of the end label of the strip while said end label is supported on the first of the heated members, means for severing said end label from the strip while it is so supported, folding elements consisting of a pair of flat plates for folding the opposite edges of the severed label over the edges of said holding means, means for withdrawing said holding means from beneath the folded edges of the label, and means for bringing the second heated member against the folding elements after withdrawal of the holding means to cause the folding elements to press down the folded edges of the label against the first heated member.

13. In a machine of the character described, a

mounting for a roll of connected labels in strip form, a hand-operated roller for feeding the strip from the roll, means for gauging the amount of feed from the roll, a table on which the strip is fed, a cutting device interposed between the feed roller and the table for severing successive labels from the strip, a finger, means for bringing the finger down upon a label severed from the strip by the cutting device while said label rests upon the table, folder members, means for moving the folder members toward one another to cause them to infold the opposite edges of the label, and a pressing member for pressing down the folder members against the infolded edges of the label.

14. In a machine of the character described, a cutting means comprising fixed and movable cutting blades, a flat support on which a strip of labels is fed, means for causing the cutting device to cut off the end label from said strip while said label is disposed over the support, a springmounted lifter member adjacent the fixed cutting blade for lifting the cut edge of the severed label and inclining the same above the level of the support, and means for folding down and pressing the opposite edges of the label.

15. In a machine of the character described, a mounting for a roll of connected labels in strip form, a hand-operated roller for feeding the strip from the roll, means for gauging the amount of feed from the roll, a table on which the strip is fed, a cutting device interposed between the feed roller and the table, a finger and means for bringing the same down upon a label severed from the strip by the cutting device while said label rests upon the table, folder members and means for moving the same toward one another to cause them to infold the opposite edges of the label, and a pressing member mounted over the table and folder members for pressing down the folder members against the infolded edges of the label, and means for moving the finger to cause it to eject the folded and pressed label from the table.

16. In a machine of the character described, a cutting means comprising fixed and movable cutting blades, a table on which a strip of labels is fed, means for causing the cutting device to cut off the end label from said strip while said label is disposed over the table, a spring-mounted lifter member adjacent the fixed cutting blade and normally disposed above the level of the table for lifting the cut edge of the severed label to an inclined position above the level of the table, and means for folding down and pressing the opposite edges of the label, said pressing means including the means which folds down the edges of the label.

LOUIS O'SKOW. 

